Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women

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Monday, April 16, 2018

This week is National Volunteer Week. How grateful we are to the volunteers who keep the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women running. Last year, our volunteers served over 700 hours! "Thank you" seems so small compared to the work they do for us, but it is all we have, so THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!!

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

As our supporters know, the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women is committed to addressing food insufficiency in the neighborhood. We continue to provide the materials for women to grow their own vegetables to feed their families and we continue to provide supermarket gift cards when necessary. Additionally, we provide diapers and baby wipes for some of our families, so that they might have more money to spend on food, especially at the end of the month.

We are happy to share that, in addition to providing direct support for our hungry families, we are also participating in focus groups as part of a research study entitled, "Understanding FMNP Redemption Barriers," by Dr. Renata Blumberg and her students at Montclair State University. Dr. Blumberg, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Food Services at MSU, has visited the Center many times, has assisted in our garden and has previously interviewed our gardeners. Her present research centers on the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (commonly known as "WIC.") Redemption rates of FMNP vouchers are not as high as they should be. Why is that? Dr. Blumberg is dedicated to finding out. By participating in her research, the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women hopes to begin to move beyond merely feeding the hungry toward addressing the reasons why they are hungry. We are grateful to Dr. Blumberg and her students for including us in their research.

Dr. Renata Blumberg during a recent focus group session.
Dr. Blumberg provided a nutritious, delicious lunch for the participants.

Monday, March 26, 2018

As you know from our February blog post, our crocheters participated in the American Heart Association's "Little Hats, Big Hearts" program. We are proud of our women and happy to share with you the letter of thanks they received.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

We are proud of our crocheters who are participating in the American Heart Association's "Little Hats, Big Hearts" project to observe American Heart Month during February and to "empower moms to live heart healthy lives and to help their children do the same." Each woman has crocheted several red hats to be shared with babies born during February in local hospitals. This project is in conjunction with The Children's Heart Foundation. Here is a photo of some of our crocheters with our Associate Director, Sister Elaine (who coordinated the project), as they prepare to send their hats to "Little Hats, Big Hearts." We are so grateful to our women -- who have such big hearts -- for sharing their talents with the community!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

We have been quite active at the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women during the month of December -- so active, in fact, that we have neglected posting here! Please accept our apologies for our absence and for this rather long post. We hope you enjoy reading about our December "happenings."

On December 1, our friend Rosa was here again to conduct a Christsmas-themed arts and crafts workshop for the women. Here are some photos:

During the first week of December, we also took delivery of the first four of our new computers, purchased with donations and grants that we told you about previously. (See this post -- and this one.) Our current English learners are thrilled to be using the new computers and accessories. And, we have already added new learners to our Rosetta Stone program. We are overjoyed to be free of the many hours of troubleshooting that our old computers required. "Stay tuned" to this blog during the new year for photos of our women enjoying the new computers. We are grateful to our generous benefactors.

While continuing to honor Advent (with Sister Ann Marie's program at St Anthony of Padua, Passaic), we moved forward toward Christmas with a luncheon that was planned, prepared and served by our women on December 19. At the luncheon, we were able to share so many gifts with our women! The staff of the Paterson Diocesan Center continued its "Giving Tree" tradition by providing us with thousands of dollars of grocery gift cards. The parishioners of the Church of Christ the King in New Vernon added grocery and other gift cards in addition to diapers, wipes and formula. The St. Vincent dePaul Society at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, in Monroe Township provided an abundance of toys and children's clothing. Other benefactors -- both individuals and religious communities -- gave generous Christmas donations. Again, we are grateful!

Sister Ann Marie provides the Advent reflection for the English-speaking
community at St. Anthony Parish, Passaic.

Some of the toys donated by our friends at Nativity of Our Lord Parish.

Christmas shopping at the Center

Sister Margaret watches a young one while his mother enjoys the party.

Some of our faithful volunteers and our women enjoy the food and fellowship.

Finally, we want to wish you a very merry Christmas! Hopefully, you realize how much we need and appreciate your help in this ministry. Quite literally, we cannot do it without you! Thank you and God bless you!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

How grateful we are to Father Brian Sullivan, pastor, and the parishioners of the Church of Christ the King in New Vernon, NJ, for awarding a "We Care We Share" grant to the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women! We have put the funds to immediate use in our English Language Learning program. We continue to give thanks for so much generosity bestowed on us during our "Week of Giving Thanks." We are truly grateful for the faithful support we have received from the Church of Christ the King. Please enjoy these photos of yesterday's presentation:

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

We are so very grateful to our Giving Tuesday donors! In addition to those who donated through iGiveCatholic, donors visited us to deliver checks and other items. We are extremely grateful for the financial donations, but we are also very grateful for the new relationships we formed and for the faithful relationships we strengthened. We are grateful, too, for our benefactors who offered the $2,500 match which doubled each dollar we raised!

We are grateful to everyone in the Development Office of the Diocese of Paterson. Through their efforts and support, we were introduced to iGiveCatholic and had a very successful first attempt at Giving Tuesday.

How can we ever thank you enough? Perhaps by growing the ministry and continuing to serve the people of God in Passaic, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the country. We'll do our best! Thank you and God bless you!